How to Create an Orchid Mini Greenhouse

Written by carrie terry

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Greenhouses can provide a valuable addition to many gardening situations. Anyone who wants to grow warm-weather plants in cool regions, or to produce fruit and flowers year-round, can use a greenhouse to control the growing environment. For plants with very specific growing requirements, like orchids, the controlled environment of a greenhouse is the ideal situation. Orchids can be grown in standard greenhouses or smaller structures called mini greenhouses. Regardless of the size of the greenhouse, the same standard orchid growing requirements apply.

Skill level:

Easy

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Things you need

Thermometer

Electric heater

Humidifier

Shade cloth

UV lights

Water

Watering can

Fertiliser

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Instructions

Standard Greenhouses

1

Plan your greenhouse's layout. Even in a mini greenhouse, leave pathways so you can access every plant for watering and fertilising. Plan for specific breeds of orchids--put heat-loving orchids at the centre of the greenhouse or near the heat source, and cold-tolerant orchids at the edges, near the walls. Make sure that each orchid is in the open, with access to circulation and light.

2

Install a layer of mesh shade cloth over your orchids. Orchids should get at least 12 hours of light a day but will be burnt by direct sunlight. Shade cloth will allow the orchids to take advantage of the heat and sunlight of greenhouse growing, without the possible damage.

3

Make sure orchids get a sufficient amount of light year-round. When the days get shorter in fall and winter, supplement natural light with UV lighting to satisfy the 12-hour day requirements for orchid growing and blooming.

4

Program the greenhouse fan to give the orchids good circulation. Put the fan on the lowest setting, to circulate the heat and humidity through the greenhouse, but make sure the fan is pointing up, above where the orchids sit, as orchids can be damaged by direct drafts.

5

Control the temperature in your greenhouse to give the orchids a consistent growing environment. Orchids need temperatures between 15.6 and 32.2 degrees Celsius during the day and can still thrive in temperatures down to 10 degrees Celsius at night. Buy an electric heater that has a thermometer attached and program it to maintain the temperature and turn off when the greenhouse gets too warm. Set up a humidifier to supplement the heater and to maintain a humidity of 40 per cent.

6

Water the orchids once a week, using a watering can. Orchids do not like to get their leaves very wet, so pour water directly into the pot, over the roots of the orchids. Add fertiliser to the water once a month, using a 10-10-10 fertiliser.

Shelf Greenhouses

1

Set up a smaller, shelf-style mini greenhouse for orchid growing. Space the shelves so that there is adequate room for the long stems and spreading leaves of orchids. Space the orchids so that you can easily reach each plant.

2

Place the mini shelf-style greenhouse in an area that is ideal for orchid growing. North and south-facing walls and window sills will provide the indirect light needed for orchids. If you cannot provide a sheltered spot, cover the walls of the mini greenhouse with shade cloth to protect the orchids from direct light. Shade cloth can be placed inside or outside the walls.

3

Provide the right amount of warmth, humidity and light for orchid growing. Small shelf-style greenhouses will hold the sun's warmth for longer, and do not need a secondary heater. They will also lose heat quickly in cold temperatures, so move them indoors during winter. Supplement natural light with UV lighting to satisfy the required 12 hours of light a day. Keep the doors of the mini greenhouse open during the day to allow air to circulate around the orchids.

4

Water the orchids once a week, using a watering can. Orchids do not like to get their leaves very wet, so pour water directly into the pot, over the roots of the orchids. Add fertiliser to the water once a month, using a 10-10-10 fertiliser.

Tips and warnings

An orchid's lifespan includes many instances of flowers wilting and dying, shoots falling off and leaves wilting. This is followed by reblooming.